HC reserves order on DMK's plea

The Madras High Court today reserved its order on DMK's petition seeking reservation of seats for ST candidates in the coming local body polls in Tamil Nadu.
The court reserved the order after the senior counsel for DMK and Advocate General of Tamil Nadu completed their arguments.
The court said it might pass order on Friday itself.
DMK said there had been a great hurry in notifying the elections.
However, the advocate general furnished civic poll notification details for the year 2006 and 2011, prompting the court to comment: "Even in 2011, the notification was issued on September 21, and filing of nomination was started from the very next day. This is a pattern followed by all the ruling governments. I was of the opinion that the government was in a rush, now the submissions give a different picture."

The court then questioned the petitioner as to what steps the party had taken so far, being a responsible opposition for the conduct of fair and free election, apart from approaching the court at the last minute.

To this, DMK's senior counsel said, "We gave notice to the State Election Commission on the issue before six months. And whenever we raise such issues in the assembly, we are thrown out."
The advocate general argued that the government published details of reservation on September 16, and it was gazetted immediately. Another gazette was published on September 20, he said, adding political parties knew elections were due, and they had to remain prepared for polls.

The local body polls are slated to be held on October 17 and 19.